Cloud Applications Now More Accessible for Comcast Business Customers

Nov 17, 2014

Philadelphia, PA.

A new Ethernet-focused datacenter program adds efficiency and flexibility to critical tasks like data storage and backup, billing or website hosting. In addition, a network with one million Ethernet-enabled buildings, on-net data centers nationwide and access to cloud exchanges will provide businesses with ‘LAN-like’ connectivity to cloud solutions.

Comcast Business today announced a data center and cloud program designed to provide customers with more efficient access to their own cloud solutions. This new initiative will give businesses more freedom and added flexibility to perform critical processes like data storage and backup, dev/test, collaboration, billing or website hosting.

"A key challenge in data center and cloud connectivity has been making the ‘on-ramps’ more accessible to a wider number of business locations," said Nav Chander, Research Manager, Enterprise Telecom at IDC. "Comcast’s network reach, portfolio of Ethernet services, on-net data centers in a variety of geographies, and dynamic access to multiple cloud services gives businesses in its service areas flexible and compelling options to customize hybrid IT solutions for their specific organization’s business goals."

Since launching its private Ethernet services in 2011, Comcast Business has extended its fiber-based network to multi-tenant data centers and cloud exchanges. Today’s announcement will further broaden that access throughout its footprint of more than one million Ethernet-enabled buildings.

"For CIOs and IT departments, sourcing their business applications to a multi-tenant data center or cloud is only viable if their business locations have private Ethernet connectivity to ensure application performance would be the same whether the server is on-site or hundreds of miles away," said Mike Tighe, Executive Director, Data Services, Comcast Business. "Our focus is on being the data center and cloud-neutral transport provider that empowers businesses with a choice in hybrid IT solutions and massive Ethernet network reach to connect data centers and cloud services to more than one million Ethernet-enabled buildings."

As companies increasingly mix and match private and public cloud services based on the requirements of specific applications, Comcast Business is building direct connections into cloud exchanges to give its Ethernet customers dynamic and scalable access to a range of cloud service providers. As part of this strategy, Comcast Business has private, high-performance connections with automated provisioning to multiple cloud services through the Equinix Cloud Exchange™ at 10 Gbps, 1 Gbps and sub-gigabit connections.

Driven by the shift to hybrid IT solutions, multi-tenant data centers are increasingly a strategic area of network traffic and interconnection. Comcast Business has extended its fiber network and Ethernet services into more than 325 data centers across the United States, ranging from individual Tier I facilities that local businesses use for data back-up to regional, multi-facility Tier IV providers that offer colocation, managed hosting and cloud services with replication across diverse geographies. Beyond just the network connections, Comcast Business is partnering with data center providers in a variety of co-marketing and sales enablement activities as data centers recognize that Comcast Business’ network reach and rapid Ethernet provisioning expand their addressable market.

"With more ports installed during the first half of 2014 than any previous corresponding period, the Ethernet market is accelerating quickly and it is the technology of choice for data center and cloud connectivity," said Rick Malone, principal at Vertical Systems Group. "The demand for Comcast’s Ethernet services reflects business customers’ desire for direct, on-net access to a variety of data center facilities and cloud services to meet the requirements of businesses of all sizes and across different industries."

In the Mid-Year 2014 U.S. Carrier Ethernet LEADERBOARD from Vertical Systems Group, Comcast Business moved up two spots to the number six position and is now the second largest cable MSO in terms of Ethernet services. Vertical Systems Group’s LEADERBOARD is the industry’s foremost benchmark for measuring Ethernet provider market presence based on billable retail port installations.